News

PHOENIX – For those planning on visiting the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park near Yarnell this year, the Arizona Department of Transportation reminds visitors not to park illegally along State Route 89, putting themselves and others at risk.

The shoulders of state highways are reserved for emergencies only. Parking along them causes distractions to drivers along the highway and can prevent emergency vehicles from gaining access to those who need help.

The Arizona Department of Transportation cautions drivers that strong winds and blowing dust could impact travel today in southern Arizona, including on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson.

The National Weather Service has issued wind advisory for large areas of the state, which are in effect from late morning until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Travelers in Maricopa and Pinal Counties may encounter wind gusts between 25 to 35 mph, with localized gusts of 40 to 45 mph. These winds have the potential to kick up blowing dust and create difficult or hazardous driving conditions.

PHOENIX – Motorists on Interstate 10 eastbound to the west of Willcox should expect a short detour the weekend of April 23-26 for a bridge deck replacement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. 

Eastbound lanes will close at Exit 336, which will require drivers to detour onto the exit and entrance ramps, from 8 p.m. Friday, April 23, to 6 a.m. Monday, April 26. 

Why is it a big deal? Because highway maintenance dollars saved, to the tune of $235,000, means that taxpayer funds can be used for other Arizona Department of Transportation priorities. More important is the determination of volunteers to Keep It Grand by making Arizona’s highways more appealing for all.

That makes those who commit time and effort to ADOT’s Adopt a Highway program worthy of a big thank you from all Arizonans during National Volunteer Week, which runs through April 24.  

PHOENIX – Motorists should plan for lane restrictions and delays on two sections of Interstate 19 through the end of 2021 as the Arizona Department of Transportation completes two paving projects and bridge work.

While some restrictions and paving have been underway since February, drivers should expect new restrictions by late April on the Sahuarita Road bridge over I-19. Traffic on Sahuarita Road, also known as Helmet Peak, will be reduced to one lane in each direction at I-19 through the fall as crews work to replace the concrete bridge deck.

PHOENIX – With springtime upon us, the Arizona Department of Transportation reopened three White Mountains-area state highways Thursday, April 15, after being closed for the winter.

State Route 261 runs from State Route 260 near Eagar to Big Lake, while State Route 273 goes from SR 260 to Sunrise Park and Big Lake.

State Route 473, runs south from SR 260 on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, to Hawley Lake.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division continues to adapt to changing customer service demands. MVD recently expanded contact center help, added temporary help to assist in the demand for appointments and has steadily increased the number of online self-serve options, including driver license renewals, available to customers at AZMVDNow.gov.

Expanding call center help to the Yuma prison will provide some relief to the high volume of calls MVD receives.

PHOENIX – Thousands of entries were received for the Arizona Department of Transportation Safety Message Contest, but only a couple will find its way into the bright lights of an ADOT highway message board when the public gets to decide. 

In one week, more than 2,400 entries were received and now the public will pick the winner from the 10 finalists. Voting is open through April 21 at azdot.gov/SignContest. The winning safety messages will be announced in May. 

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing Friday, April 16, on the agency’s recommended plan for the next five years of construction projects statewide.

The virtual hearing on the 2022-2026 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program begins at 9 a.m. and can be accessed at aztransportationboard.gov.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is starting a project to repave a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between I-17 and Walnut Canyon Road in Flagstaff. This project will improve safety and extend the life of the highway.

The work will include replacing the existing pavement in both directions of I-40 and replacing pavement on the on- and off-ramps at four intersections in the project area. Work will also include making repairs to bridge decks along the 10-mile stretch and repairing guardrail as needed.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is pleased to announce that many commercial truck drivers are now eligible to renew their Commercial Driver License (CDL) online. The ability to renew online offers time savings and convenience and ADOT Motor Vehicle Division encourages commercial truck drivers to explore this option when their CDL needs to be renewed.

Previously, renewing a CDL required a visit to an ADOT Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office. 

PHOENIX – Crews will complete a two-month project in mid-April to replace 20 miles of fencing near Globe that were damaged by two wildfires, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The Salt and Griffin fires had burned the fencing in summer 2020 along sections of US 60 and state routes 188 and 288. The replacement work began in February and is now mostly complete along US 60 and SR 288, with crews expected to finish work along SR 188 this week.

PHOENIX – With warmer weather coming to Arizona’s high country, the Arizona Department of Transportation is ramping up construction projects to improve safety and extend the life of the infrastructure.

In the Flagstaff area, ADOT has already started projects to replace the Interstate 40 bridges over Business 40 which connects to Historic Route 66 in west Flagstaff. The project, which is approximately 3 miles west of the junction with Interstate 17, will replace the east- and westbound bridges on I-40 in their entirety. The project is anticipated to be completed by fall of 2022.

PHOENIX – A bridge over Interstate 10 west of Willcox will close Monday, April 5, as part of an Arizona Department of Transportation project to replace the bridge deck.

The bridge at Exit 336, which connects Haskell Avenue to the south of I-10 and Taylor Road to the north of the Interstate, will remain closed until fall.

Through the $2.5 million project, the eastbound I-10 exit ramp to Haskell Avenue will remain open to allow vehicles to enter Willcox from the west.

PHOENIX – For National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, the Arizona Department of Transportation is doing its part to create a buzz around the dangers of texting and driving.

Building on its “Distracted Drivers Terrify Me” campaign, ADOT has produced a new public service announcement. This one features a beekeeper. This is the fifth 30-second PSA in a campaign that shows Arizonans doing something most people find terrifying.

PHOENIX – A two-year project will begin in April to repave and make other improvements to a 10-mile section of State Route 77/Oracle Road between Tucson and Oracle Valley, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

PHOENIX – As the Arizona Department of Transportation continues work on the new Rio de Flag bridge near Flagstaff City Hall, drivers along Historic Route 66 in the area should expect traffic shifts through early May.

Beginning Monday, March 29, all traffic will be shifted to the north side of the road, having one lane for each direction. The left-turn lane to northbound US 180, locally known as Humphreys Street, will be closed. This configuration is expected to last about three weeks.

PHOENIX – What do a children’s book, a teacher and mingling singles have to do with safety? They were all part of last year’s winning messages from the Arizona Department of Transportation’s annual Safety Message Contest. ADOT is once again calling on the public to craft creative messages.  

It's the fifth year in a row ADOT has run the contest. Contest entries have ranged from wacky to poetic. About 16,000 entries have been received over the past four years but the agency still expects there are more safety messages that haven’t been uncovered.

The first-of-its-kind dust detection and warning system installed by the Arizona Department of Transportation has been named one of the “Infrastructure Gamechangers” by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

PHOENIX – With snow forecasted in Arizona’s high country beginning this evening through tomorrow, the Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to consider delaying all but essential travel before heading north.

Check road conditions by calling 511 or visiting az511.gov. ADOT’s Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook page (facebook.com/AZDOT) provide real-time information and interaction.